Trident buys consumer IC lines from Micronas

SAN FRANCISCOConsumer chip maker Trident Microsystems Inc. has acquired three consumer chip product lines from Micronas Semiconductor Holding AG in exchange for 7 million shares of Trident common stock plus warrants to acquire up to 3 million additional shares.

The acquisition includes selected assets of the frame rate converter (FRC), demodulator and audio product lines of Micronas, including products, technology and intellectual property, according to Trident (Santa Clara, Calif.).

As a result of the acquisition, Trident's total worldwide headcount increased by approximately 150 employees and Trident has opened new design centers in Munich and Freiburg, Germany, as well as Nijmegen, The Netherlands, the company said. Trident's European headquarters will be located in Munich, the company said.

"This acquisition is an important step and catalyst in achieving our vision to reemerge as a leading DTV multimedia solutions provider," said Sylvia Summers Couder, Trident's president and CEO, in a statement.

Micronas (Zurich, Switzerland) announced in February it would close its consumer divisionwhich mainly sold video processors for digital TVs.

Based on Trident's closing share price of $1.43 Thursday, 7 million shares would be worth $7.43 million.